Last Orders called for NI Pub of the Year Awards

31 August 2016

It’s calling time for Northern Ireland’s leading hospitality awards, as the closing date for Hospitality Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards fast approaches.

Hospitality Ulster, the representative body for the Hospitality Industry in Northern Ireland, is calling on pubs, hotels and restaurants right across Northern Ireland to make sure they are in the running for one of its top industry awards, before entries close on Wednesday, 14th September 2016.

In recognition of the ever widening scope of the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland, a total of THIRTEEN Awards are up for grabs, each designed to highlight the very best that the sector has to offer.

New for 2016, Hospitality Ulster has introduced a Food & Beverage Manager of the Year Award which is open to entrants from pubs, restaurants and hotels.

Three individual Pub of the Year Awards will recognise the best pubs and bars in rural, urban and city locations across Northern Ireland and this year’s Awards will once again recognise the growing importance of locally sourced food, through three Commitment to Local Food Awards, pub, restaurant and hotel (in partnership with Food NI).

There will be a Commitment to the Community Award to recognise the immense contribution hospitality businesses make within their local communities and in the Hotel Bar of the Year category, there will be two Awards: Hotel Bar of the Year (1* - 3*) and Hotel Bar of the Year (4* - 5*).

One Award category will invite nominations from the general public. People can nominate their favourite barperson through The Sunday Life, which is joining forces with Hospitality Ulster once again to search for Northern Ireland’s Barperson of the Year.Rounding up the awards for 2016 there will be a Hospitality Ulster’s Rising Star Award (in partnership with Ulster University), to recognise up and coming talent and a special Industry Legend Award (in partnership with Hospitality Review NI), paying tribute to those that have played a role in shaping the industry.

It couldn’t be easier for pubs, hotels and restaurants to step forward for their moment in the spotlight, as all entries can be completed and submitted online at www.nipuboftheyear.org

“Over the last number of years the Pub of the Year Awards have gone from strength to strength, and as our Hospitality industry continues to grow and diversify, so too does the breadth and reach of Hospitality Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards.

“These awards are our chance to recognise not only the pubs that make our industry famous across the world but also our amazing restaurants and world class hotels; and for us to celebrate and reward all the elements that make our hospitality industry great.

“We’ve seen a great response from the industry to date and as the closing date for entries approaches, I would encourage those pubs, hotels and restaurants that haven’t entered yet to do so before September 14, as we strive to celebrate the real heroes of Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry and make the Pub of the Year Awards 2016 the best yet!”

All submitted entries will be vetted and judged by an independent judging panel comprised of industry experts, before being mystery shopped to ensure they meet industry standards and best practice guidelines. A final shortlist will be announced by the end of October, revealing the premises shortlisted for each award.

The Pub of the Year Awards moves to a new venue for 2016. On Wednesday 16th November, hundreds of publicans and restaurateurs from across Northern Ireland will gather in the Ramada Plaza at Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast to toast Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry.The Pub of the Year Awards are the only industry recognised awards. This year’s Awards are supported by Britvic, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Drinks Inc., Henderson Foods, Heineken Northern Ireland, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennent’s NI, United Wine Merchants, and media partners, Sunday Life, Hospitality Review NI and U105.